A city man was arraigned Tuesday in Superior Court in Norwich in connection with the death of 31-year-old Namdi Smart, who was gunned down Thursday night near his home.

Darnell X. Moore, 21, of 35 Western Ave., is charged with murder and criminal use of a firearm. Norwich police responded at 10:55 p.m. Thursday to the area of Smart's Lake Street residence, where they had found him dead of a gunshot wound to the head.

Norwich police also charged Moore Monday in connection with a strongarm robbery that occurred on Lake Street hours before the murder.

In the robbery, Norwich police charged Moore with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny and second-degree assault. The warrants in both cases are sealed.

Moore appeared in court in blue jeans and a white T-shirt, his wrists cuffed and his legs shackled. He sat on a bench with other defendants while Judge Edward J. Dolan advised them or their rights. Smart's wife, Thaniyyah Hutchinson, walked into the courtroom and started to sob when she saw Moore.

She yelled, "How could you do this?" and cursed at Moore.

Judicial marshals escorted her from the courtroom and advised her to compose herself if she wanted to watch the arraignment. A short time later, after an older woman had comforted her and the marshals provided her with a cup of water, she returned and watched calmly as Moore appeared before the judge. She declined to comment after the arraignment.

The judge kept Moore's bond at $1.75 million, the amount that had been set by Judge Kevin P. McMahon when he signed the arrest warrants. Moore's case was transferred to Part A in New London, where major cases are heard, and scheduled for Sept. 13.

Police said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Norwich police at (860) 886-5561 or the Anonymous Tip Line at (860) 886-5561, extension 500.

Moore was released from prison on March 27 after he was sentenced in January 2008 to three years in prison and three years' probation on robbery and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. He also had been convicted of possession of marijuana in 2005 and had pending cases involving motor vehicle offenses.